FINCHforum

hi All,

UGH. We have Beaker the Zebra - previously housed with a mellow cordon blue Azul. After illness, Beaker plucked Azul bald-headed. I never actually saw it but gee, all the feathers grew back when I separated them. They were so cute and snuggly before, I just couldn't believe it.
So several weeks ago, I got a buddy bird for each. Bonzo, the beautiful black cheeked zebra, and Thurston, a beautiful owl. They have been in quarantine for 4 weeks. Yesterday, I decided was 'graduation day', one day shy of 4 weeks, I was excited.

I brought the new boys down. Mind you, they have definitely bonded and are nice with each other. There was no nest in their cage. So yesterday morning I rehoused each boy with his new friend.

Thurston and Azul are avoiding each other like the plague. Thurston has been vocal, Azul has not. Azul usually sleeps on top of his nest but last night he and Thurston went to separate corners and slept. Seems like it will be ok, eventually....


You can tell where this is going....
The second my hand was out of the cage, Beaker attacked Bonzo. He puffed up to twice his normal size and did his loud "Clang clang clang" in front of Bonzo. He's chased the poor guy all over the cage. Husband "Maybe this was not a good idea". Me " "

I have seen Bonzo open his beak at him to defend himself. Last night Beaker stayed in the nest and Bonzo on a perch. AND I hear a very distinct clicking noise coming from Bonzo. That noise had terrified me and made me get S76, b/c we went through air sac mites already with Beaker and Azul and it was NOT GOOD. Anyway, that is a side topic - I don't think it is air sac mites but if anyone knows a reason for clicking - made me think of someone grinding their teeth at night.

So after some reading on here, and thinking I need to give them time, I decided it's silly to leave the nest in there while I see if they will "work it out". So I took the nest out.
I feel like a big meanie. The two new boys seemed perfectly happy together before I moved them and now everyone is upset. I am sure with time Azul and Thurston will be fine. But poor Bonzo is just sitting on one perch. (he is eating and drinking, been watching to be sure). The cages are much larger than the little cage they were living in ("Petsmart finch kit"). however, according the FIC calculator, just big enough for 1. They are not flight cages, but taller than they are wide. I've been telling myself it's better than where they were. But now hubby is thinking one much bigger cage that is proper dimensions for the 3 who don't fight, and Beaker by himself.

I do have a question...how long do I leave Bonzo and Beaker together to see if it improves? I never saw Beaker chase or peck at Azul, but he's definitely on Bonzo. Hoping that no nest cuts that down...

Any ideas/advice always appreciated
Wendy

Just one question...before you put the zebras together did you move around the perches, waterers ect. The bird that was originally in the cage is seeing someone disrupting his territory, and thus protecting HIS cage. Maybe try removing them both to the other cage for 5 minutes, swtch things around a little bit and try again. It can't hurt

Besides rearranging the cage, another option that I have used was to use a grated divider to separate the birds. Then let them be like that for a week. They can see each other w/o being able to be physically aggressive to the other bird. This could give them the time to get used to each other. Then after a week, removed the divider and watch how they behave.
If they are mellow, you are OK.
If one is aggressive to the other. I dunno.

hi Folks,

thanks for the great suggestions....

I always try to make sure I have searched for my question to see if someone else already asked it, and of course after I posted this, I saw similar queries - thanks to this board for being so patient with newbies!!

I decided to do the least amount of work to see if it would solve the problem, and took the boys out to rearrange their environment. WOW! Talk about leveling the playing field!! Beaker NOT happy but the chasing stopped immediately. I even decided to empty the nest and put it back in. yay!!!

Looks like they are on their way to being buds

thanks for the help!
Wendy

That's great news